Illuminated electric ceiling fixture construction



Feb. 17, 1959 J. H. ZITOMER ILLUMINATED ELECTRIC CEILING FIXTURECONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 27, 1955 I5 Sheets-Sheet l I E J INVENTORATTORNEYS j fosep7LEZiZ0mer Feb. 17, 1959 ILLUMINATED ELECTRIC CEILINGFIXTURE CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 27, 1955 J. H. ZITOMER 2,873,828 I 3Sheets-Sheet 2 k Lfa'sephflzz'iomerl J INVENTOR BY 1 I] l 0 ATTORNEYS.

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ILLUMINATED ELECTRIC CEILING FIXTURE CONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheet s Filed Jan. 27, 1955 flee whiz Z iiomer INVENTOR ATTORNEYS UnitedStatesPatent ILLUMINATED ELECTRIC CEILIN G FIXTURE CONSTRUCTION This inventionrelates to wall-to-Wall electric fixture construction, includingtranslucent panels to provide for such surfaces as sound control, airdifiusion, fire protection, power outlets, intercommunication telephonesystems, etc.

An important object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive andpractical means for modernizing a building by lowering the ceilingsthereof to cover unsightly,

objectionable ducts, pipes, wall cracks, or the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide a construction of thischaracter wherein indirect and shadowless lighting is provided, at theminimum cost with the translucent panels used being so constructed thatthey may be readily dismantled or removed to facilitate the cleaning andrepair of such panels.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a fixture embodyinga plurality of interlocking members, such as beams, which may beretained in their connected positions without the necessity of usingsecuring arms or similar securing devices that are usually'difficult tomanipulate in restricted areas. 8 j

A still further object of the invention is to provide a supporting meansfor the ceiling lighting elements which will permit the lightingelements to be snapped in place and secured without the necessity ofusing securing bolts or the like.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details ofconstruction and combinations of parts hereinafter morefully describedand pointed out in the claim, it being understood that changes may bemade in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing fromthe spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a sectional view through a wall-to-wall electric ceilingfixture supporting device, constructed in accordance with the invention,and taken on line 1--1 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the fluorescent light fixturesupporting means.

Fig. 4 is an elevational View of an electric ceiling light fixture andsupport.

Fig. 5 is a fragmental perspective view of a ceiling fixture supportingframe assembled.

Fig. 6 is a fragmental perspective view illustrating cross beams of theframe as connected with the webs of the main supporting beams of theframe.

Fig. 7 is a fragmental perspective exploded view, illustrating thecooperating ends of the cross beams as separated from the web of a mainbeam. I

Fig. 8 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a modified form ofceiling fixture supporting frame.

Fig. 9 is a fragmental elevational view partly in section, illustratingthe connection between the cross beams of the frame and main supportingbeams thereof.

Fig. 10 is a fragmental elevational view illustrating the means forconnecting adjacent ends of the main fixture frame beams.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken on line 11-11 of Fig. 10.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the reference character 5 indicatesthe electric ceiling fixture supports which are arranged in parallelspaced relation with respect to each other, as better shown by Fig. 2 ofthe drawings, and secured to a ceiling 6.

Each of these electric ceiling fixture supports is of channelconstruction and is constructed preferably of sheet metal material of ayieldable' character, so that the longitudinal side walls 7 thereof maybend laterally, for purposes to be hereinafter more fully described. Theside walls 7 are provided With aligning slots 8 elongated longitudinallyof the side walls as shown by Fig. 3 of the drawings, the slots beingdesigned to receive the extensions 9 formed on the ends of the baseplates 10 of the fluorescent light fixtures 11, which light fixtures 11are of constructions to extend beyond the free edges of the side walls7.

The ends of the light fixtures 11 are formed with sockets 12 into whichthe contact fingers 13 are positioned, providing a circuit between thesockets 12 andfluorescent lamp tubes 14.

Due to this construction it will be seen that by placing the base plates10 in position over the free edges of the side walls 7 and slightlyflexing the side 'walls laterally, the extensions 9 will slip into theslots 8, securely fastening the fluorescent light fixtures to theelectricceiling fixture supports, Without the necessity of usingsecuring screws, clamps or the like.- This structure also insures readyand easy removal of the fluorescent light fixtures 11, should it bedesired to repair or replace the same.

The fluorescent light fixtures and tubes are protected 7 by means of thetranslucent members 14', that rest on the flanges 15 and 16 of the framewhich supports the translucent members. This frame which provides thesupport for the translucent members comprises main supporting beams 17which are arranged in parallel spaced relation with respect to eachother under the ceiling of the room in which the fluorescent lightfixtures are installed. The main supporting beams are formed Withopenings 18 through which the hooks 19 formed in the lower ends of arms20 extend, the arms 20 being secured to the ceiling and suspendedtherefrom.

Secured to the side walls of the room in which the fixture is to beinstalled, are angle bars 21, that have lower horizontal flanges 22extending inwardly therefrom providing supports for the ends of the mainsupporting beams 17.

Vertical slots 23 are formed in the webs of the main supporting beams 17and receive the ends 24 and 25 of the cross beams 26 and 27,respectively, the ends 24 and 25 being so formed that when they havebeen inserted within a slot 23, they will overlie and provide acontinuous cross 'beam.

In the upper edge of the extension 24 is a notch 28 that accommodatesthe upper edge of the slot 23, While the end 25 of the cross bar 27 isformed with a notch 29 that accommodates the lower edge of the slot 23,anchoring the adjacent ends of the cross beams to the main supportingbeams and at the same time providing a connection which will permit thecross beams to be readily connected and disconnected from the mainsupporting means.

With this construction, the flanges 30 of the cross beams and theflanges 15 of the main supporting beams provide supports for thetranslucent members 14' that are rectangular in shape, to closely fitwithin the square openings formed by connecting the cross beams withinthe slots of the main supporting beams.

In the form of the invention as shown by Fig. 8 of the drawings, themain beams 31 have their horizontal laterally extended flanges 32 formedwith notches 33 to accommodate the ends 34 of the flanges 35 of thecross beams 36 and 37, respectively, thereby to hold the cross beams 36against lateral or twisting movement with respect to the main beams 31.These cross beams 36 and 37 are formed with extensions 38 which areoppositely disposed, the extensions having curved cooperating edges thatpermit the cross bars to interengage and completely fill the slot 39 ofthe main supporting beam associated therewith. Notches 40 are formed inthe extensions 38 and accommodate the adjacent edges of the slot 39 inwhich the extensions 38 are disposed, securing the cross beams againstmovement longitudinally with respect to each other.

In this form of the invention the main supporting beams 31 are formedwith openings 41 to receive the hooks of supporting arms, in the samemanner as shown by Fig, l of the drawings.

In the event that the frame is used in exceptionally large rooms and itbecomes necessary to splice the main beams, the adjacent ends of themain beams are provided with vertical slots 42 to accommodate thetongues 43 of the splice plate 44, there being provided openings 45above the slots 42 to accommodate the heads 46 of the plates 44. Sincethe widths of the plates 44 are equal to the width of the web or centralportion or the main beam to which it is connected, the spliced ends ofthe main beams will be held against vertical movement with respect toeach other.

From the foregoing it will be seen that due to the construction shownand described, I have provided an electric ceiling fixture construction,wherein the fluorescent light fixtures may be readily and easily snappedinto position or removed for repair.

It will also be seen that due to the construction of the ceiling fixtureframe, the fluorescent light tubes will be protected by the translucentplates or members 14, so that the light fixtures are invisible and haveef- A fective and complete indirect lighting provided at a minimum cost.

In view of the foregoing it will also be seen that since the translucentmembers 14 are shaped to exactly fit Within the square openings providedbetween the main beams and cross beams of the light fixture frame, thesetranslucent members may be positioned by slightly bending the membersand placing them Within the frames formed by the beams 31, 36 and 37 sothat when they are released they will spring into flat shape and be inclose contact with the beams of the frame.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

In a fluorescent lighting fixture, main supporting beams having verticalelongated openings and laterally extended flanges formed along the loweredges thereof, opposed cross beams having interengaging verticallyaligned extensions having arcuate extremities formed at the endsthereof, each cross beam having a cutaway portion conforming inconfiguration to the extension of the opposed cross beam fitted withinsaid elongated openings of said main supporting beams, said extensionshaving notches fitting over the edges of said openings at the endsthereof locking said cross beams to said main supporting beams providinga series of adjacent lighting areas, said lighting areas being adaptedfor the reception of horizontally supported fluorescent lightingmembers.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,341,259 Champeau May 25, 1920 1,652,347 Champeau Dec. 13, 19272,134,491 Sibbert Oct. 25, 1938 2,232,543 Logan Feb. 18, 1941 2,659,808Beckwith Nov. 17, 1953 2,665,784 Lacy Ian. 12, 1954 2,680,805 MacdonaldJune 8, 1954 2,698,071 vLee Dec. 28, 1954 2,752,017 Segil June 26, 19562,772,742 Sprankle Dec. 4, 1956

